Intel Confirms Bug in 320 Series SSD

Imagine if you saved your hard earned pennies, stopped eating out for awhile, and made certain sacrifices in your latest build all so you could splurge on Intel's 600GB SSD 320 Series. It'd be worth it, right up until the drive goes haywire and insists it's an 8MB drive. Not cool, yet the so-called '8MB bug' has managed to infest Intel's entire line of 320 SSDs. On the bright side, Intel recently acknowledged the flaw, which is a step in the right direction....

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Read more at: Maximum PC | Intel Confirms Bug in 320 Series SSD

That Intel for you. They just rush things out without proper testing and let us pay the bill. First the Sandy Brige now this.... Intel need to slow down and spend more money on testing.

Being an optimist, I see it as "the glass is 8/600 full", not as "the glass is 592/600 empty".

Besides, just plug it into one of the original Sandy Bridge MBs and it goes away completely... :devil:

Is this the power cycling problem? It's hard to make anything idiot proof much less test for it.

carwiz said:

Is this the power cycling problem? It's hard to make anything idiot proof much less test for it.

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Thanks Brink.
It is good that Intel is going to check into the problem.


Well my 320 is doing well.
I have a UPS so no damaging shut downs from that.
If it happens I have images and my backup spinner is ready.

Here's another one for you. Intel Communitites.

This is good to know. Thank you Shawn for bringing it to our attention. Intel really seems to be in deep yogurt lately.

Thanks for the info Shawn, will have to keep an eye on these developments.

This post is intended merely as an interim update on the Intel 320 Series issue cited by Brink. Thanks Shawn for the heads-up. I found this following post by an Intel rep on the Intel Community forum. Hopefully the forthcoming f/w update will fix the problem.

http://communities.intel.com/message/133478#133478

Jul 24, 2011 2:57 PM
Update on "Bad Context 13x Error"
Intel has been investigating the ‘Bad Context 13x Error’ as seen on select Intel® SSD 320 Series drives. This was previously noted in the Intel community post as “SSD Power Loss”. To summarize the error: In certain circumstances, after an unexpected power loss, a small percentage of SSDs may experience this error on the next attempt to boot the system. In this situation, the system’s BIOS reports an SSD as an 8MB capacity drive.

Intel has reproduced ‘Bad Context 13x Error’ utilizing strenuous testing methods. This ‘Bad Context 13x Error’ can be addressed via a firmware update and Intel is in the process of validating the firmware update. A future update will define the schedule to deliver the firmware fix.

The Intel SSD 320 Series continues to be shipped and is available for purchase. If you experience this error with your Intel SSD, please contact your Intel representative or Intel customer support (via web: www.intel.com or phone: www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contact/phone) .





For those with Intel SSD 320 series SSDs who are concerned but currently unaffected, Intel advises the following actions:

• As with any storage device, backup your data regularly
• When shutting down your system, follow your system’s standard shutdown process
• Minimize unplugging the SSD while your system is powered

Intel takes these issues seriously. Please watch for further updates on this site.

Rgds,
Alan
Intel’s NVM Solutions Group

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Thanks for the update, glad to see they are responding, even though it took a while.

The bug has been fixed apparently, who is going to try to fix their drive first;
AnandTech - Intel SSD 320 Firmware Posted, Addresses Bad Context 13x Error

Here is the link from Intel;
http://communities.intel.com/thread/24205

Well, I am wondering whether to take the plunge.

I have an 80 gig 320 series with NO issues.

My rational mind tells me if it ain't broke, don't even attempt to fix it.

Yet--the firmware update is supposed to be non-destructive.

So, being half a fool, I will probably try it in short order. I've got a recent image of C anyway, so why not live dangerously.

I just updated my X25-M and the tool said I already had the latest firmware.

Mine is working fine. I haven't read the fine print but if like Crucial if a firmware update bricks the SSD the warranty is void.
Great big letters on the Crucial firmware download page.

We will see.

I just ran the update.

No issues.

Firmware before: 4pc10302

Firmware after: 4pc10362

Downloaded the ISO, burned it to disk with ImgBurn, and booted from the disk. Took no more than a minute and I got a success message.

I confirmed the new firmware in Intel SSD Toolbox.

Same as a bios update for your MB. Live on the edge.

Done. 4PC10362 showing in Tool Box.

Much easier than most MB Bios updates.
The longest time spent on it was remembering how to use the burn software. LOL
I only use it once every couple of months.

Hello all,

i want to share my HP elitebook 8460p with SSD 320 series problems.

Hard drive Specifications :
1. Model Number : INTEL SSDSA2BW160G3H
2. Model SERIES : INTEL SSD 320 SERIES 160 GB (show as 8 MB in intel SSD toolbox)
3. Serial Number : BAD_CTX 0000013F (shown in intel SSD toolbox)
4. Firmware : 4PC10365

PROBLEMS :

1. Bluescreen error in windows vista enterprise 32 bit after automatic update in my company.

2. After restarting the notebook i got the following message in the startup "REBOOT AND SELECT PROPER BOOT DEVICE". My windows wouldn't even start.

3. I connect my SSD into another computer as secondary drive and boot to the windows. Check in the disk management, i found my harddrive is only 8 MB. Many of the forum called this "8 MB BUG". Note : my SSD harddrive is not shown in my computer.

SOLUTIONS TRIED :

1. HP software & driver : I downloaded "Intel Solid State Drive (SSD) Firmware Update" on website "HP EliteBook 8460p Notebook PC -  Download drivers and software - HP Business Support Center" and trying to do install SP52887 directly from windows and it says "setup status : this harddrive model is not supported : ST380013AS" which is my first harddrive (not the SD). The most updated firmware, i try to install SP5508 and it says "update status : This harddisk model is not supported". SP52887 installer is also comes with disk images to update firmware from boot process, i also do this and it says "your harddrive is having the latest firmware, no upgrade is needed". So, i think i have no luck with HP software & driver.

2. Intel SSD toolbox : I downloaded Intel SSD toolbox from website "http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18455&lang=eng%20" and i cannot update to the latest firmware because of i have the latest firmware already. The only thing left is "SECURE ERASE" and it's the last thing i want to do because it will delete all the data in the SSD hard drive.

QUESTIONS :

Anybody know how to fix SSD 320 series harddrive without secure erase it ?